I was at a writing conference this past March (the Women in Publishing Summit, which was amazing!) and during one of the networking sessions one of the other writers mentioned they were writing a knitting cozy mystery. As an avid knitter myself, I immediately asked, “Do you knit?” From there, immediately my fellow writer/knitter and… Read more »
Greetings, fellow word nerds! As we head into April (aka National Poetry Month), it only makes sense that this month’s Leisure Learning column should focus on the short form of the written word. In a world where words can easily become blather, poetry offers a magnificent opportunity to return to the essence of our human… Read more »
When it comes to professional editing, editors and their services range far and wide. Each editor will have different experiences, specialties, preferences, styles, rates, and timelines. Finding the book editor that’s right for you requires thought and active searching. Here is how I recommend finding an editor for your specific needs. How NOT to Find… Read more »
Hello word nerds! I want to thank you so much for reading my column this year. I have enjoyed writing for you all and I hope I have inspired some of you to try a game or two. This will be my final column for DIY MFA, thank you for reading, and I’m pulling for… Read more »
Have you noticed book covers stepping up their game? If so, you’re right! These trends make today’s annual book cover review extra exciting. To provide some background, much of my professional life has been spent studying trends and foresight (I’ve also worked in marketing, strategy, competitive intelligence, digital, and more…stories for another time!) At its… Read more »
Hello fellow kid lit writers! By the time you read this, I will be home from my latest writer’s conference! I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and my regional chapter had their annual conference recently. It was a blast! Not only did I get to attend some wonderful… Read more »
Marketing is essential for any writer who wants to be successful. Without effective promotion of your services and connectedness with your current and potential clients, it’ll be challenging to maintain an overflowing pipeline of work. There are many approaches to take regarding marketing, but social media marketing presents a uniquely powerful opportunity to promote your… Read more »
The long road to starting a business can feel even longer for you if you’re a solopreneur who’s logging most (if not all) of your hours alone. Having access to other people while you’re working in your rabbit hole is important for both the social and emotional aspects we typically think of. It’s great to… Read more »
As an independent author, you’re more than the person who writes words in a novel. Once you choose to go the self-publishing route, you inadvertently choose to also become a self-employed entrepreneur. As such, you now wear every hat for all the departments of your business. This includes wearing the marketing and sales hats. This… Read more »
Just as a high-stress job can lead to Sunday Scaries as the dreaded Monday deluge approaches, many authors experience what I call Book Promotion Scaries as a launch date for a new book nears. In fact, I don’t think I know a single author who doesn’t get a case of nerves from putting their newest… Read more »
